Shoring apparatus



Feb. 23, 1960 I w so ETAL 2,925,981

. SHORIYNG APPARATUS Fired April 24, 1957 2 $hee'ts-Sheet 1 INVENTORS, Enema G. WILSON 8N1 CHARLES E. DEARC E.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1960 E. 6. WILSON ET AL 2,925,981

SHORING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS'. EDGA)? (F W1 LsoN ,and 65' C44 memes WE'RE/mace.

l 6 F 5 BY 501mm, QM W Iraq- ATTORNEYS 2,925,98l Patented Feb. 23, 196i) SHORING APPARATUS Edgar G. Wilson and Charles R. Pearce, "Gastonia, N.. Application April 24, 1957,.Serial No. 654,776 11 Claims. (Cl. 248-354) This invention relates to a shoring apparatus which is adjustable lengthwise and is adapted to temporarily support building forms and the like.

Heretofore, several different types of shoring devices have been used which may be divided into two main classes. The first class is usually made of two pieces of metal pipe telescopically joined together with means for holding the two pieces together in the proper adjusted lengthwise position. This type of shoring device has several disadvantages which include high cost, the limited amount of adjustment which can be made and the problem of storing a large supply of different size shoring devices for different jobs. However, there are several advantages which include accurate adjustment, within restricted limits, great strength, and the devices may be reused. The second class is usually made of wood, cut a little short of the desired supporting length and raised to supporting position by driving wedges therebeneath. This type of shoring device has several disadvantages which include the high cost of labor to cut the lengths of wood, time consuming installation and they are difiicult to adjust so that each supports an equal load. There are also several advantages of this type shoring device which include lower cost material and they may be easily braced since angularly disposed wooden braces may be nailed to them.

Since both types of shoring devices have disadvantages, due primarily to the material of which they are made, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel two-piece shoring device wherein one piece is formed of a relatively low cost material such as wood and the other piece is formed of metal. This novel shoring device will thus retain all of the advantages of both types of prior shoring'devices plus additional advantages not available in either prior type and none of the disadvantages of either type. While one piece of the novel shoring device is formed of metal, it is built in an open framework manner to conserve high cost metal and can be made in one standard length to use with almost any job and the other piece is made of a low cost material which can be cut in any desired length by unskilled labor since the length is not critical and any mismeasurement can be corrected by adjustment of the length adjusting means on the metal piece. The length adjusting means includes a major length adjust ment for making relatively large length adjustments and a minor length adjustment for making relatively small or fine length adjustments.

It is another object of this invention-to provide a two-piece shoring apparatus having means for making major length adjustments and minor length adjustments wherein the length adjusting means is supported on one, piece of the shoring apparatus and is engageable with one end of the other piece of the shoring apparatus to vary the overall or eifective length of the two pieces as desired.

It is another object of this invention to provide a two-piece adjustable shoring apparatus having a first 2 built-up cage-like member adapted to receive the major length adjusting means at various positions thereon and minor or fine length adjusting means supported by said major supporting means and a second member telescopically engageable with the first member and being longitudinally adjustable relative to the first member by said minor adjusting means.

It is another object of this invention to providea shoring apparatus having a first member, a second member telescopically engageable with the first member, and temporary support means on the first member engageable Figure 2 is a side elevation of the shoring apparatus,

shown in Figure 1, with some of the parts in different positions and looking at the right-hand side of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in Figure 2; I

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the lower portion or" a second form of two-piece shoring apparatus; 7

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view along the line 88 in Figure 6 Referring to Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings, the two-piece shoring apparatus includes a first member broadly indicated at 10 and a second member broadly indicated at 15 which is adapted to telescopically engage the first member It The length of the second member 15 is fixed, that isthe length from one end to the other remains the same since there are no means for increasing or decreasing the length thereof, although it is to be understood that other members 15 of different lengths may be used with the first member 10, if desired. The second member 15 is illustrated as being made of wood and being substantially square in cross-section although, it should be understood that the member 15 could be made of other materials and made in different cross-sectional shapes.

The first member 10 is also of a fixed length, that is its overall length from one end to the other may not be increased or decreased although similar members 10 may be provided which are different in overall length from one end to the other. The first member 10 includes a base plate 20 to which one end of a plurality of standards 21, 22, 23 and 24 are fixed which extend upwardly therefrom (Figures 1, 2 and 4) and are supported and held in spaced relationship to each other by a plurality of encircling straps or bracing members 25:: through 25g fixed in vertically on the standards 21 through 24. Thus, the first member It) is substantially hollow and has an open framework including corner standards 21 through 24 and spaced bracing members. 25a through 25g on any one of which taken substantially a major length adjusting member or bracket, broadly in-- dicated at 30, may be supportingly positioned.

The bracket 30 includes a handle portion 31 one end of which is fixed to one end of a bifurcated platform 32 having an opening or slot 33 communicating with the end of the platform, opposite the end to which the handle 31 spaced apart relationship is connected. The end of the platform 32, adjacent the end having the slot 33 therein, is provided with a pair of downwardly extending stop cars 35 and 36 and the opposite end of the platform 32 has a stop bar 37 fixed thereto which extends downwardly therefrom (Figures 1, 2 and 3).

A minor length adjusting member in the form of a plate 40 is adapted to have vertical sliding movement in the slot 33 of the platform 32 and has a support plate 41 fixed to the upper end thereof which is adapted to receive and support the lower end of the second l'llfillber 15. The adjusting plate 40 is provided with a first longitudinally extending row of equally spaced elongated openings or slots 43 (Figure 3) and a second longitudinally extending row of equally spaced slots 44 spaced from and in staggered relationship to the row of slots 43 which are adapted to receive one end of a minor length adjusting member in the form of a wedge 45. The wedge 45 is made of a plate material of sufificient thickness to slidably penetrate the slots 43 and 44 and increasingly widens from one end to the other and has one end of a safety chain 50 secured to its widest end while the other end of the chain 50 is suitably secured to a chain hook 51 fixed on the handle portion 31 (Figure 4). The chain 50 is of sufiicient length so that the wedge 45 may be freely inserted into and removed from the slots 43 or 44 of the minor length adjusting plate 40 and is provided so that the wedge 45 will not be lost or misplaced from the adjusting bracket 30 when the wedge 45 is not positioned in the slots 43 or 44.

The minor length adjusting plate 40 is guided for vertical movement through the slot 33 in the adjusting bracket 30 by a locking pin 53 (Figures 3 and 4) which is removably mounted in holes in a pair of angle brackets 54 and 55 fixed on the upper surface of the platform 32, adjacent opposite sides of the slot 33. A pair of second member support screws 56 and 57 (Figures 1 and 2) are threadably mounted in the respective straps 25g and 25 of the first member and the inner ends thereof are engageable with, when screwed inwardly, the sides of the second member to temporarily support the Second member 15 while the major length adjustment is being made. The first member 10 may be provided with any number of brace receiving brackets 60, only one of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2, fixed on the standards 21 through 24 as by welding and each of which is provided with holes therethrough for the reception of screws, nails or the like for attaching suitable bracing members to the first member 10 to brace the first member 10 in the desired position, while supporting a load on the second member. Brace members may also be nailed to the shoring apparatus by driving nails through the brace member, not shown, the openings in the first member 19 and into the second member 15.

The second member 15 is shown (Figures 1 and 2) with a head member 65 fixed thereto in perpendicular relationship to the member 15 and having angularly disposed brace members 66 and 67 nailed to the head member 65 and the second member 15 for increasing the area of support of the member 15 and it is to be understood that, the member 15 may be used without the head member 65, if desired.

In order to adjust the length of the shoring apparatus, prior to its use, the second member 15 may be moved to the approximate length, short of the final weight supporting length, and the support screws 56 and 57 tightened to temporarily hold the second member in this position while making the major length adjustment necessary. The major length adjusting bracket 30'will then be positioned on the encircling strap immediately below the lower end of the second member 15 and positioned to penetrate the first member 10, as shown in Figure 3, and straddle the minor length adjusting plate 40. The

locking pin 53 will then be inserted in the brackets 54' and 55, the minor length adjusting plate 40 moved until the support plate 41 engages the lower end of the second member 15 and the narrowend of the adjusting wedge 45 will then be placed in one of the slots 43 or 44 extending partially above the platform 32 of the major length adjusting bracket 30 and moved inwardly as far as possible by hand pressure. After the wedge 45 has been placed, the support screws 55 and 56 may be loosened and the wedge 45 driven inwardly, as by a hammer, to raise the minor length adjusting plate 40, relative to the platform or adjusting bracket 30, and thus raise the second member 15 relative to the first member 10 the desired distance to wedgingly engage anything that the free end of the second member 15 engages.

In order to remove the shoring apparatus, after use, it is merely necessary to hit the narrow end of the wedge 45 to drive it out of the slot 43 or 44 to lower the minor length adjusting plate 40 and the second member 15 so that the upper end thereof will be' lowered out of engagement with the member which it had been supporting. The shoring apparatus may then be removed and stored for use again.

A modified form of shoring apparatus is shown in Figures 5 through 8 which is similar to the shoring apparatus shown in Figures 1 through 4 except that the major length adjusting member and the minor length adjusting member are both different and where parts appear in Figures 5 through 8 which are like parts in Figures 1 through 4 they will be given the same reference characters with prime notations added. The modified form of shoring apparatus includes a first member in, a second member 15' telescopically engageable with the first member and means on the first member for adjusting the overall length of the two members. The first member 10' includes a base plate 20, corner standards 21 through 24, longitudinally spaced encircling straps or bracing members 25a through 25f, a major length adjusting member 39' which is adapted to be supported on the member 10 by any one of the bracing members 25a through 25 and a minor length adjusting member 40' supported by the major length adjusting member 30 and engageable with the lower end of the second member 15. The major length adjusting member 30 comprises a plate member to the lower surface of which a pair of tubular members 76 and 77 are fixed and are penetrated by a pair of support pins 80 and 81. The pins 80 and 81 may be supported, in suitable holes 85 and 86 which penetrate the strap members 25a through 25 and corner standards 21' through 24', to support the major length adjusting bracket 30 at any one of the strap members 25a through 25 The plate member 75 has an internally threaded boss 90 fixed in the center thereof which is threadably penetrated by a screw 91 having a support member or head 92 at its upper end which engages the lower end of the second member 15' and a handle or wrench receiving member 93 fixed on its lower end. The first member 10' is provided with second member temporary support screws 56 and 57' threadably penetrating the respective strap members 25 and 25s for, at times, engaging and supporting the second member 15. Brace receiving brackets, similar to the brackets 60 in Figures 1 and 2, may be provided at various positions on the first member 10', if desired.

In order to use the modified form of shoring apparatus, shown in Figures 5 through 8, it is necessary to raise the second member 15 to approximately the length required, tighten the temporary support screws 56 and 57', remove the support pins 80 and 81 and move the major length adjusting member 30' to position the same on the corresponding strap members 25a through 25f immediately below the lower end of the second member 15', rotate the screw 91 by the handle 93 until the head member 92 thereon engages the end of the second member 15', loosen the temporary support screws 56' and 57', and again rotate the screw 91 until the member 15 has been raised to the desired supporting position.

aaaaas Although the second members 15 and 15 have been describedas being of a'single"length,"and the firstmembers and 10 have been described as being of a single fixed length it is to be understood that different length second members may be used with the first members 10 and 10' and difierent length first members 10 or 10' may be used with the. same length-second members if desired and it is not necessarythatthe first and second members be of the same length.

Itis thus seen that a .shoring apparatus has been provided which is made in. two pieces, one of which is a relatively low cost material available in varying lengths and telescopically engageable with a second member which is built of an open metal framework thus eifecting a material savings over solid metal shoring devices heretofore in use and provided with major length adjusting means as well as minor length adjusting means.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. A sho'ring apparatus comprising a first hollow open framework member, a second solid member telescopically engageable with said first member, a major length adjusting member positioned inside of said first member, a plurality of encircling straps spaced longitudinally of and fixed on said first member for supporting said major length adjusting member, a minor length adjusting member penetrating and supportingly guided by said major length adjusting member, one end of said minor length adjusting member being engageable with one end of said second member, and means for adjusting said minor length adjusting member relative to said major length adjusting member to change the overall length of said shoring apparatus.

2. In a shoring apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said minor length adjusting member comprises a screw threadably penetrating said major length adjusting member and engaging one end of said second member for adjusting the distance between said major length adjusting member and the end of said second member to thereby adjust the overall length of said shoring apparatus.

3. In a shoring apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said minor length adjusting member comprises a screw threadably supported on said major length adjusting member and engageable with said second member.

4. A shoring apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first member has supporting holes therein at spaced intervals longitudinally thereof, support means movable to selected holes in said first member for supporting said major adjusting member, and a screw threadably penetrating said major length adjusting member and engaging one end of said second member for adjusting the distance between said major length adjusting member and the end of said second member to thereby adjust the overall length of said shoring apparatus.

5. In a shoring apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said support means comprises support pins, and said shoring apparatus includes screws threadably mounted in said first member and engageable with said second, member for temporarily supporting said second member while positioning said pins and said major length adjusting member.

6. A shoring. apparatus comprising a first square hollow open framework member, a second square solid member telescopically engageable with said first member, a plurality of encircling strap members, fixed on and spaced longitudinally of said first member, a major length adjusting member positioned inside of said first member and engageable with any selected one of said strap members, temporary support means on said first member for temporarily supporting said second member while positioning said major length adjusting member, and a minor length adjusting member penetrating and supportingly guided by said major length adjusting member, one end of said minor length adjusting member being engageable with one end of said second member for adjusting the overall length of said shoring apparatus.

7. A shoring apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said minor length adjusting member comprises a screw threadably supported on said major: length adjusting member and engageable with said second member for making relatively small adjustments of overall length of the shoring apparatus.

8. A shoring apparatus comprising a first member, a second member telescopically engageable with said first member, a plurality of encircling strap members fixed on and spaced longitudinally of said first member, a major length adjusting member supportable on any selected one of said strap members, temporary support means on said first member for temporarily supporting said second member while positioning said major length adjusting member, a minor length adjusting plate supportingly guided by said major length adjusting member and engageable with said second member, said plate having a plurality of slots therein, and a wedge engageable with a selected one of said slots and said major length adjusting member for adjusting the overall length of said shormg apparatus.

9. A shoring apparatus comprising a first member, a second member telescopically engageable with said first member, a plurality of encircling straps spaced longitudinally of and fixed on said first member, a major length adjusting member supportable on any one of said encircling straps, a plate penetrating and supportingly guided by said major length adjusting member, one end of said plate being engageable with said second member, said plate having a plurality of slots therein, and a wedge engageable with a selected one of said slots and said major length adjusting member to provide adjustment of said plate relative to said major length adjusting member.

10. A shoring apparatus comprising a first member, a second member telescopically engageable with said first member, said first member being of open framework construction and having standards connected by support straps spaced longitudinally thereof, a major length adjusting member adapted to extend through said first member and be supported by any one of said strap members, a minor length adjusting member passing through said major length adjusting member and having rows of spaced slots therein in staggered relation- Ship to each other, said minor length adjusting member being engageable at one end with the end of said second member, and a wedge engageable with selected slots in said minor length adjusting member and said major length adjusting member for moving said minor length adjusting member through said major length adjusting member upon movement of said wedge.

11. A shoring apparatus comprising a first member, a second member telescopically engageable with said first member, said first member being of open framework construction and having standards connected by support straps spaced longitudinally thereof, a major length adjusting member adapted to extendthrough said first member and be supported by any one of said strap members, a minor length adjusting member passing through said major length adjusting member and having rows of spaced slots therein in staggered relationship to each other, said minor length adjusting memberv being engageable at one end with the end of said second member, a wedge engageable with selected slots in said minor length adjusting member and said major length adjusting member for moving said minor length adjusting References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 V Mailin -ran Mar. 1;, 192 4 Sir'ik's, Dec. 1, 1925 F'o'RfitoN PATENTS Switzerland July 2, 1934 Switzerland July 16, 1935 Germany Sept. 10, 1936 France -l Aug. 6, 1934 France Feb. 14, 1951 

